LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 161

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cluding its sexuality, is part of God’s design. The
“New Testament does not teach that our body is evil.
‘God purposed that man and woman should be united
in a continuing one-flesh relationship, be responsible
for the procreation of the race, and together nurture
their children. In fulfillment of this purpose sex is
_a gift of God to be used responsibly. Sex is God’s
idea, not man’s.

; Marriage and marital fidelity are part of God’s order
of creation, are found in some form in almost all
societies, and are considered necessary to direct the
human sex drive to constructive purposes within the
framework of the family. The Scriptures exalt the
marital relationship. “Let marriage be held in honor,”
says the apostle, “and let the marriage bed be unde-
filed.” Marriage is even used in Scripture as a symbol
of the union of Christ and His church.

The restriction of sex relations to marriage is neces-
sary both psychologically and socially — psychologically
because any other use breaks down the intimate union
of personalities of which sexual relations are an ex-
pression; socially because the relationships of sex
are inevitably and irretrievably social with undeniable
meaning and effect on the family, on children, and on
the whole community and the country. This is to say
that the boundaries set by God in His commandment
forbidding adultery are for the social well-being and
inner happiness of man.

Restoration Through the Gospel

For the Christian, God is at the center of life. His
life of faith includes the reality of sex and the reality
of his own sinful inclinations. He looks upon his body
as the temple of the Holy Spirit and a means of serving
God. Every aspect of his life as a Christian, including
his sexual expression, will be determined by the rela-
tionship between himself and his God, who in His love
reaches into man’s alienation to reconcile man by the
life and death of Jesus Christ.

The Christian use of sex is part of the believer’s
grateful response to God, who made sexuality a part
of creation, redeemed man also from the misuse of
sexuality, and sanctified the use of sexuality.

When the penitent sinner turns to the Christ of the
Gospel, he is assured of forgiveness and is restored to
a new life. The Gospel calls him to a mission in life
other than self-gratification and enables him to enjoy
all things, including sex, within the plan and purposes
of God.

The Gospel also gives man compassion toward those
who have erred. Having been forgiven, the Christian
forgives, accepts, and helps to restore others with the
healing and new wholeness to be found only in Christ
and His love.

What people need is not more codes of law but
a new spirit. This spirit comes to man through the
Gospel, God’s means for restoring man to wholeness.

The Challenge to Moral Leadership

As God’s instrument of healing to men, the church
affirms that the redemption and restoration of man

YOUNG PEOPLE’S WORK 161

includes his sexuality and all relationships between
male and female.

The church’s position in this generation must not
be one of continuing the silence and hypocrisy of the
past, nor of condoning the promiscuity, licentiousness,
and pornography of the present. It must explicitly
teach the sinfulness of human nature, the Christian
view of sex, and submission to God’s guidance in the
Scriptures.

The church, entrusted with the Gospel, needs to
face with realism the current sex revolution and give
effective guidance with materials and methods which
the church offers for teaching children, youth, and
adults.

Viewing himself as a member of Christ’s body, the
church, the Christian accepts his mission in and to the
world. He is to be a bright and shining light to his
generation, a leaven in society, the salt of the earth in
his community. By silence and indifference Christians
also can become part of the problem of immorality
instead of supplying the answer.

By their example in the home, by their sense of
Christian values, and by positive teaching, parents hold
the key to improvement. The school and the church
can supplement but not replace parents in this teach-
ing role.

The church looks to Christian pastors, teachers,
youth leaders, and parents to give children and youth
a Christian view of sex and to teach its constructive
use in life as an expression of their commitment to
Christ.

We herewith call on Christians in every community

across the nation to accept moral leadership as part
of their mission in life.
(Scripture References: Gen. 2:18; Ex. 20:3, 14; Matt. 19:
3-9; John 4:1-30; Rom.1 and 2; 1 Cor.5 to 7, esp. 6:12
to 20; 7:2-5; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20; 5:1-26; Eph. 2:10;
9:21-33; Phil. 1:14; 4:8; 1 Thess. 4:3-8; Heb. 13:4)

Action: This resolution was referred to the Synod’s
President.

COMMITTEE 8 — Young People’s Work

Re International Walther League Convention
at Squaw Valley
RESOLUTION 8-01

Overtures 8-13 Un, 8-14 Un, 8-15 Un, 8-17 Un, 8-18 Un,
8-19 Un (URO, pp. 41—43)

In reviewing the real concerns and the questions
raised by the programing of the Squaw Valley Walther
League convention, we are troubled by instances of
poor judgment and of faulty and inadequate communi-
cation, by the taking of offense by some and the giving
of offense by others. Followers of Jesus Christ in such
a situation react in a spirit of humility and understand-
ing, of love and forgiveness, and with the call to confess
one’s faults to one another and to extend forgiveness
to one another.